Float-controlled diaphragm valve for hydraulic pumping systems



T- F. MOORE Dec. 6, i932.

FLOAT CONTROLLED DIAPHRAGM VALVE FOR HYDRAULIC PUMPING SYSTEMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1930 [/wmrae MTAMSS 05 Y Z i z flrromvcr v Dec. 6, 1932. Q 'r. F. MOORE v I 1,890,126- non CONTROLLED nmranmu VALVE FOR HYDRAULIG'PUIPIIG s-rs musn Filed Nov. 15, 1950 2 sh'iih haet 2 Patented Dec. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- THOMAS F. MOORE, OF MORRIS PLAINS, NEW JERSEY Application filed November 15, 1930. Serial No. 495,989.

This invention relates to a centrifugal hydraulic pumping system of the class set forth in my pending applications, Serial No. 322,- 056, filed November 26, 1928 and Serial No.

380,223, filed July 22, 1929, and refers more particularly to a float-controlled means for preventing the entrance of air to and withdrawing of air from the intake side of the pump to prevent the latter from becoming ail-bound, and incidentally to avoid the necessity of priming the pump when in operation.

These pumps are used extensively for withdrawing water from swamps and other repositories and discharging it into other more or less remote basins to prevent baekflow t0 the source, preparatory to excavations for the reception of masonry or other structures. In many instances the mouth of the intake is only partly submerged in the water, which a llows a greater or less quantity of air, sand, chips and other foreign matter to enter the intake with the water and which, if allowed to enter the pump, would be seriously detrimental to the operation and efficiency there- In my pending applications, referred to, suitable means has been provided for reduc ing this objectionable result by providing the intake conduit with an upwardly extending float chamber adapted to receive a part of the inflowing water therefrom, and having its .upper end communicating with a sultable vacuum pump operating simultaneously with the centrifugal pump for pumping or withdrawing air from the intake before entering the centrifugal pump. Communicationbetween the float chamber and vacuum pump is controlled by a float-operated valve within said chamber in such manner that an excess amount of water entering the chamber will ellect a gradual closing of the valve andthus prevent the entrance of water to the vacuum pump. 1

The main object, therefore, is to provide simple. efficient and automatic means for preventing the entrance of air to the centrifugal pumpand at the same time preventing the entrance of water to the vacuum pump or other suction device, and incidentally to prevent the passage of chips, gravel and other solid foreign matter from entering the centrifugal pump through the intake.

Owing to the widely varying volumes of water and air admitted to the mouth ofthe intake it is found that the action of the float and valve controlled thereby is very irregular and consequently under violent reciprocatory motion through widely varying ranges to such an extent as to seriously impair certain parts of the float chamber and movable elements operating therein after a short period of use, unless some means is provided for reducing the shock incidental to the violent operation of saidmoving parts.

One of the specific objects of the present invention is to reduce to a minimum this liability of impairment of the float chamber and elements moving therein, and thereby to greatly prolong the life of this part of the apparatus by providing yielding connections between the float and valve-supporting member and also between said valve-supporting member and top wall of the float chamber.

Another specific object is to permit the use of a comparatively light-Weight valve-controlling float so that it may be instantly responsive to the slightest variations of liquid levels in the float chamber and to connect th s float to the diaphragm or strap valve in such manner that the latter will be gradually stripped from the suction ports from one or both ends toward the center during the descent of the float, and also gradually close said ports from the center toward the B5 ends as the float rises.

, Another. specific object is to provide the top wall of the float chamber with a multiplicity of apertures grouped in the form of a, diamond or rhomb as a means of communication between the vacuum pump and upper part of the chamber, and to control such communication by means of a flexible diaphragm valve tending to close under the influence of the partial vacuum but operatively connected to the float in such manner that when the latter descends by the recession of the water in the float chamber the valve and apertures controlled thereby will be gradually opened from opposite ends toward the center thereof,

thereby assuring a more positive, eflicient and close control of the inflow of water and outflow of the air to and from the float chamber than has heretofore been practised.

In other words I have sought to provide float-operated means connected to the valve in such manner that when the float is raised by the'rise of water in the float chamber the valve will gradually close from the center toward the ends, while on the other hand the descent of the float by the recession of the water in said chamber will cause the valve to gradually open from the ends toward the center, thereby accomplishing the close regulation referred to.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the device will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the intake conduit of a centrifugal hydraulic pump and a float chamberris'ing therefrom with the float and valve'controlled thereby, together with the intake conduit of a vacuum pump in communication with the upper portion of the float chamber, the float being shown in elevation and in a position for partially opening. or closing the valve.

Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged horizontal sectional views taken respectively in the planes of lines 2-2 and 3-3, Figure 1, Figure 3 being inverted.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section view taken in the plane of line i -4, Figure 1.

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged vertical sectional views of the. upper portion of the float chamber and float therein, the float in Figure 5 being shown in its u position, while Figure 6 shows the float in its lowermost position for fully opening the valve, the valve being closed in Flgure 5.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of line 7-7, Figure. 5, showing more particularly the form of the flexible diaphragm valve.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood I have shown an intake conduit 1- of a centrifugal hydraulic pump (not shown) as provided with an enlargement :2 for recelving'a diagonal screen 3- between the OPPOSltG'GTldS thereof to prevent the passage of chips, gravel and other foreign solids to the pump, and at the same time permitting free passage of the liquid therethrough. The lower 'wall of the enlargement -2.is'provided with a' sump 4- having a removable cap -5 to permit the removal of'the foreign matter which may be lodged in the inlet end of the enlargement.

- The top wall of the enlargement 2 of the intake conduit -1 is provided with an upwardly. extending cylindrical float-chamber '-6 Having its lower end in unobstruct- 'edopen' communication with'the interior of the intake conduit .1, and its upper end vided with a suction chamber -'-9- in open communication with the upper end of the float chamber through the medium of a multiplicity of apertures or openings -10- formed in the intermediate portion of the bottom wall of the plate -.7-.

These apertures -10 are grouped in the form of a rhomb, diamond .or oblong around the center of the partition 7 so that the longer and shorter axes of the group will be at substantially right an les to each other and the combined areas 0 the apertures will be greatest along the shorter axis and will gradually diminish toward the ends of the longer axis for a purpose hereinafter described. I

The suction chamber -9' is adapted to-be connected by a conduit -111 to a vacuum pump similar to that shown in my pending application, Serial No. 322,056, previously referred to, or any suitable equivalent thereof, for maintaining a partial vacuum in the chamber -9 and apertures 10-, the obj ect of which is to withdraw air from the upper portion of the exhaust chamber and thus prevent such air from entering the centrifugal hydraulic pump.

Both of these pumps are preferably operated simultaneously through the medium of a connecting shaft, shown by dotted lines in my pending application 322,056, and therefore any air which may enter the intake pipe or which may tend to accumulate in the centrifugal pump will collect in the upper part of the float chamber 6 to be withdrawn therefrom by the vacuum pump;

When the pumping system is in operation apart of the water and air drawn into the intake conduit 1-- by the centrifugalpump rises in the float chamber 6- aided by the partial vacuum maintained in the upper portion thereof. It will be understood that any air which may enter the intake will assume a position above the level of the water in the float chamber byareason of its lighter specific gravity, and that the water level in the float chamber will varymateriall which may be taken'into the intake -'1 from the source of water supply, these proaccording to i the proportionate volumes 0 water and 'air" portionate volumes being de ndent upon the amount of submersion of t e mouth of the intake in the water.

A vertically elongated cylindrical float 12 is arranged within the float chamber -'6 for'vertical movement by the rise and fall of liquid therein, said floatbeing provided with a plurality of, in this instance three, external lengthwise ribs-43+ coopcrating with the inner walls of the chamber 6 for guiding the float in its vertical movement and at the same time to permit the water to pass upwardly from the underside between the ribs.

The float -12- may be of any suitable ma-' terial, the weight of which will be substantially balanced by the liquid when the level of the latter is about half the height of the float, more or less, as indicated by the dotted line in Figure 1.

The apertures 10- in the top wall of the float chamber 6 are grouped in the manner described around the axis thereof and some distance inwardly from the side walls of the chamber 6, as shown more clearly in Figure 2, in which the group is somewhat diamond-shaped with one axis longer than the other, for a purpose presently described.

The apertures 10- of the entire group .are controlled by an underlying flexible diaphragmvalve 14 of somewhat greater area than said group, and is preferably oblong in the direction of length of the longer axis of the group and has its opposite ends secured by rivets -l5 or equivalent fastening means to the corresponding ends of an underlying supporting frame 16, leaving the ntermediate portions thereof free to flex vertically and of suflicient area to close all the apertures 10when the float 12 is in its extreme upper position, as shown more clearly in Figure 5.

The valve-supporting frame '16 is yieldingly supported from the top wall.7' of the float chamber ,6 by means of bolts 17 and coil springs 18, the bolts 17- being passed through registering apertures in the adjacent portions of the frame 16 and valve 14 and being secured at their upper end to the top wall 7 at opposite ends of the group of apertures 10, said bolts being extended downwardly some distance below the lower faces of the adjacent portions of-the frame 16 with their heads at the lower ends thereof.

The coil springs -l8 surround their re spective bolts 17 and are interposed be; tween the heads of said bolts and the lower faces of the adjacent portions of the frame 16'.

These springs are relatively light and ten'd to urge the frame 16 and valve 14 upwardly toward the perforated top Wall 7 of the float chamber 6 to assist in closing the valve across the undersides of all of the apertures 10 when the float is raised to its extreme upper position, as shown in Figure 5.

The upper end of the float 12- is yieldingly connected to the central portion of the plate -16- by means of a coil spring 19 capable of being placed under compression when the valve 14' is completely closed by the, rise of the float 12 .to its extreme upper position, as shown in Figure 5, and also capable of being placed under tension for fully opening the valve against the action of the lighter springs -18 when the float 12 recedes to its lowermost position, as shown'in Figure 6.

The portion of the frame 16 underlying the intermediate portion of the valve 10- is provided with openings 20 to allow air to pass from the underside there through for slightly inflating the intermediate portion of the valve upwardly, aided by the constant suction maintained in the apertures 10, so that the intermediate portion of the valve will normally assume an upwardly eonvexed condition, as shown in Figures 1 and 6.

It therefore follows that when the float 12- is moved upwardly by the rise of water in the chamber 6, the central por tion of the valve 14 will first engage the overlying central apertures -10". As the upward movement of the float continues, the valve will gradually close the remaining apertures from the center outwardly until all of the apertures are closed, as shown in Figure 5; at which time the spring 19- will be placed under compression while the smaller coil springs 18 will be relaxed or extended to further assure the closing of the valve from end to end.

On the other hand, after the valve has been completely closed, as shown in Figure 5, and the float 12 begins to move downwardly by the recession of the water in the chamber 6, the spring 19 will be placed under .tension to draw the frame 16 and opposite ends of diaphragm 14 downwardly against the action of the springs 18-, thereby gradually stripping the valve from the group of openings 10 from the ends toward the center of the group until all, or substantially all, of the openings 10 will be uncovered as shown in Figure 1 or in Figure 6.

Opewitim lVhen the centrifugal hydraulic pump and the vacuum pump (neither of which are shown) are in operation and the intake conduit of the hydraulic pump is connected to the body of water to be removed, such water will be drawn through the intake conduit into' the pump and discharged from the latter 'into a suitable basin or other drainage outlet,

' ward the ends.

conditions the float 12-' will be more or less violently reciprocated vertically by rea-- son of the rapidly varying volumes of water and air entering the float chamber 6-.

The shock of these violent movements of the float is partially absorbed by the springs 19+ and 18-, thereby reducing to a minimum the transmission of these shocks or violent motions of the float to i the valve -14'- and its supplorting plate -16, which greatly prolongs t e life of the moving parts of the ap aratus' and renders its operation ore relia le and eflicient.

This inflow of external air intothe intake may also result from open joints in the intake line which would cause more or less violent action ofthe float and valve actuated thereby to enable such an to be timely withdrawn from the float chamber.

Durin this influx of the water and air I "into the oat chamber the air will, of course,

collect in the upper end of said chamber above the level'of. the water therein, due to its lighter specific gravity, and will be immediately wlthdrawn through the apertures -by the action of the vacuum pump.

If, however, an excess quantity of water should be drawn into the float chamber it will immediately cause the valve 14* to close all of the apertures 10- and thus positively prevent the entrance of water into the suction chamber 9 and vacuum 'ump connected thereto, in a manner previous y explained. v

It will be evident from the foregoing description that other forms of yielding con- .lnect1ons between the float and valve may be used and that the manner of'supporting the valve may also be modified withoutdeparting" from the spirit of this invention.

he diaphragm valve -14-is preferably made of rubber or equivalent air and water impervious material,.but may bemade of any other equivalent material if desired.

The group of apertures 10- arranged in the manner shown and described constitutes in eflect what may be termed an elongated port-or opening which is relatively wide at the center'and gradually tapers'towhat similar form so that when closed it will be gradually strip d from the ports from each end toward t e center, thereby establishing a close regulation of the air exit from the float chamber according to the volume of a r which may tend to accumulate in-the float chamber or any part of the intake of the centrifugal p p,

What I claim is to sald valve for opening and closing the same, and yielding means for urging the valve toward its closed position independently of said transmitting means.

3. The combination with a-liquid-receiving chamber and a suction chamber communicatmg with each other, a valve controlling said communication, a support for the valve yleldingly mounted within the first named chamber for relative movement, a float, and

yielding connections between the float and valve-support .for operating the latter to open and close the valve. i

4. The combination with a liquid-receiv ing chamber provided with a top wall having an apertured portion thereof elongated in one direction, of a flexible valve extending along the underside of said apertured portion, a float in said chamber actuated by the rise and 'fall of li uid therein, and connections' between .the cat and opposite ends of the valve for gradually opening the valve from its ends toward .itscenter as the float descends and for gradually closing. the valve from its center toward its ends as the float. rises.

5. The combination with a liquid-receiving chamber and a suction chamber communicating with each other, a valve controlling said communication, a float in .said chamber actuated by the rise and fall of liquid therein, a' movable support for the valve, and spring connections between the valve-support and float to relieve the valve from excessive shock under violent action of the float.

In witness whereof-.1 have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of November, 1930.

' THOMAS F. MOORE. v 116 The valve 14 is of some- 1. The combination Wm liquid-receiving chamber and a suction chamber communicat- 

